Australia Sews Podcast

Today on the podcast we have not one but four very special guests. Ronda, Samantha, Amy and Jane are all plus-size sewists from Australia but their stories are very different. You’ll hear why they got into sewing, some of the challenges they face as a plus-size sewist and how sewing has changed the way they think about their body.

About: The Australia Sews Podcast celebrates the Australian home sewing community and shares stories from everyday sewers transforming their lives and their wardrobes. Access show notes here.

Simon took up sewing in his 50s after getting a sewing machine as a Christmas present in 2019. Simon knew virtually nothing about sewing or how sewing patterns worked. But over time he’s learned a thing or two and today Simon loves sewing dresses for his wife Lizzy and lots of bright, collared shirts for himself. You can follow Simon on Instagram at @madebysilverfox. Access show notes here.

About: The Australia Sews Podcast celebrates the Australian home sewing community and shares stories from everyday sewers transforming their lives and their wardrobes.

Nerida Hansen is the owner and creative director of Nerida Hansen Fabrics and makes the world a more colourful place for home sewists to play in. Nerida works with surface designers and other types of artists to turn their unique designs into fabric, homewares and other products but it’s fabric where Nerida’s heart sings. She loves seeing what home sewists make with her curated fabrics and has some big plans in 2023.

You can follow Nerida Hansen Fabrics on Instagram at @neridahansenfabrics. Access show notes here.

About: The Australia Sews Podcast celebrates the Australian home sewing community and shares stories from everyday sewers transforming their lives and their wardrobes.

Julia Mulcair owns the online fabric store Pitt Trading which sells deadstock designer fabrics, European imports, patterns and sewing kits. She’s also a massive fan of making lingerie and loves sharing her passion with others through her other business, The Lingerie Society. Julia creates bra and undie sewing kits and patterns, makes sew-along YouTube videos, holds sewing retreats, gets experts in to run lingerie classes - basically anything to do with lingerie, she’s into it! You can follow Julia on Instagram at @thelionessseamstress. Access show notes here.

About: The Australia Sews Podcast celebrates the Australian home sewing community and shares stories from everyday sewers transforming their lives and their wardrobes.

Marty Collings got into sewing in 2016 through an interest in steam punk fashion. He now sews everyday clothes for himself and his lovely wife, Carol. Marty loves being creative and has a lot of fun with his sewing hobby. We talk about all the things he’s discovered and learned so far. You can follow Marty on Instagram at @martysewing. Access show notes here.

About: The Australia Sews Podcast celebrates the Australian home sewing community and shares stories from everyday sewers transforming their lives and their wardrobes.

A few years ago Shelley took a course in surface design for fun and started playing with designing fabric. Little did she realise at the time that people would be interested in buying her fabric. This was the start of Molly Molly Fabric. In this episode we talk about designing fabric and clothing labels, drafting your own body blocks and Shelley’s bright and fun clothing style. And if you’ve ever felt like an imposter or are looking for a creative outlet which is very different from your day job, you may also relate to Shelley’s story. You can follow Shelley on Instagram at @m_o_l_l_y_m_o_l_l_y. Access show notes here.

About: The Australia Sews Podcast celebrates the Australian home sewing community and shares stories from everyday sewers transforming their lives and their wardrobes.

Imagine picking up your life and moving to another country. That’s exactly what Annie Stafford recently did. She packed up all her sewing gear, hopped on a plane from New Zealand and made Australia her new home. In this episode Annie and I talk about the big move to Australia of course, attending Melbourne Frocktails, expanding her pattern line Ford Wardrobe and possibly even starting a YouTube channel to help people build their sewing confidence. Oh and we also talk about her hilarious Instagram reels. I can’t stop watching them. You can follow Annie on Instagram at @ford_wardrobe. Access show notes here.

About: The Australia Sews Podcast celebrates the Australian home sewing community and shares stories from everyday sewers transforming their lives and their wardrobes.

You may know Jess as @fat.bobbin.girl on Instagram or as one half of the pattern business Muna and Broad or you may have read her blog Broad in the Seams. In this episode Jess talks about specialising in patterns for plus-size sewists, her experimentation with block colours and her casual yet fancy style. And if you’ve never died a death between the thighs before then you haven’t lived my friends! Access show notes here.

About: The Australia Sews Podcast celebrates the Australian home sewing community and shares stories from everyday sewers transforming their lives and their wardrobes.

As a small person living in a tall world, Sarah McKay has a great story to share about finally being able to wear clothes that fit her properly. She also wanted to get away from fast fashion so learning how to sew meant she was able to achieve both of these goals. We talk about Indie patterns she’s tried, the sewing community and what it was like attending Camp Stitch with a bunch of other Aussie sewists. Yes, it was everything you are thinking right now and then some! You can follow Sarah's sewing journey @sarah.eloise.sews  on Instagram. Access show notes here.

About: The Australia Sews Podcast celebrates the Australian home sewing community and shares stories from everyday sewers transforming their lives and their wardrobes.

Today's special guest is Claudia Higgins. Claudia is a fellow Sydney home sewist who has only recently discovered the joys of upcycling. Claudia is currently embarking on a mid-career pivot as a high school teacher specialising in textiles. Her Instagram name is ‘Claudia makes pretty things’ and she’s not afraid to own the fact that she likes making and wearing pretty things. You can follow Claudia's sewing journey @claudiamakesprettythings on Instagram.

Access show notes here.

About: The Australia Sews Podcast celebrates the Australian home sewing community and shares stories from everyday sewers transforming their lives and their wardrobes.

If you know someone from Australia who would be great to have on the show, email [email protected] or send me a message on Instagram at @australiasews_podcast. You are more than welcome to nominate yourself. You can also find me, Louise Sherry, on Instagram at @make_thrift_sew